No sewing over the weekend. A late Christmas party, a hair appointment, and an outing to the Visitor Center. This weekend was Bald Eagle Days. A raptor education program was given by The Raptor Center from University of Minnesota. They brought in several birds---

American Kestrel

Red Tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Great Horned Owl

Lots of kids with lots of good questions. The birds were very well behaved--which meant the kids were able to see them up close. The kids especially laughed when the handler fed the birds. What did they eat? Mouse bits! Yes--not for the queasy--but everyone chuckled when the hawk ate the bit of mouse that had the tail--like eating spaghetti! YUM!! Winter is a good time to see bald eagles near the Visitor Center--we saw one along the road near my summer mailbox sitting in the tree. They fish in the open water below the power plant.

It was good to see the Rangers--I got a hug from Jeff--

Jeff and I

Thanks Jeff!! Once in a while I get to volunteer with Jeff--its always fun and I learn lots.

I've
had very short hair for +35 years. Last fall I decided to grow it out and not color it. Normally my hair is very curly--but
my beautician used a flat iron on it. My white/gray hair is not
evenly distributed. I have a huge white spot on the right side of my
head near the front.

About 4 inches of my true color is showing. (gray and white!) I'm not sure how long I'll let it grow. But I'll be glad when its all one color. I think.

Another cold spell is coming. We picked up groceries so I am hoping for lots of sewing time. Did you sew over the weekend?

Prepped two more applique blocks. I was distracted by my scrap box. One evening I pressed the scraps and the next cut them into usable bits. There were 179 bricks (3.5x6.5") and 81 5" charms. A Bricks and Stepping Stones quilt uses 112 bricks. Thank you Bonnie Hunter--its a great pattern and I use it often. One of the on-line groups I belong to is having an applique challenge--to finish a block each month. I probably won't be that productive--but its fun! Here is mine--

Its the Beyond the Cherry Trees project--I have 10 blocks done.

On Mondays Marlin's has 1/2 price burgers 5-9pm. They are so good! Henrietta, Ken and I braved the cold to eat.

Henrietta
had a "Texas Tangler" burger with deep fried onions strips and swiss
cheese and a hot sauce. Ken had his favorite--a cheese burger, and I
had a bacon egg cheeseburger. Served with fries and bottomless drinks
in quart jars. (I had water--not a soda drinker) What was our
bill---$16.08!

Its been frigid here--but I saw International Falls was -35F this morning so I won't complain! Tomorrow they predicts a heat wave of 20F.

The Garden Gate Plaids top is a flimsy. I used whatever homespuns were in the box paired with assorted COC, WOC, and tans backgrounds.

This went together quickly and I really like it. I'm so glad Pam suggested a quilt-a-long!! Please check everyone's design walls at Patchwork Times.Weekly Goals--

one yoyo block

finish applique block

quilt last 3 borders on the pink horror

sew on one binding

move one UFO one more step

The cold weather makes it easy to stay inside and sew. I haven't caught a cold this season--I credit it to drinking a small glass of orange juice each day. I do add a bit of peach schnapps to the orange juice to make it taste even better. And a cherry to make it pretty!

Have you any hints to avoid colds and flu? Home remedies? How about strange myth, legend, or folklore in your family??

I have a home remedy--my grandmother always gave me hot sweet lemonade to drink when I was ill, especially for an upset stomach.

Week 3 of 2013--and I have a finish!Stash In--0Stash Out--6 yardsI'M AHEAD--6 YARDSOh, I won't be so foolish as to believe each week it will be like this! But I've been finishing and haven't been shopping. Henrietta--she temps me--she came over to show me the lovely box that arrived at her house. Check everyone's stash reports at Patchwork Times.Here's my finish--

As much as I love the sailboats gliding across the quilt top, I really wanted to make one boat that was sinking with a broken mast. It's COLD here, I'm staying inside and sewing.

Warm weather here at the moment, 48F and most the snow has melted. Muddy and sloppy but that's going to change soon. By Sunday its will be frigid cold and the puddles will be ice rinks.

Time to check my goals--

One yo-yo block--in progress

quilt one top and make binding--in progress

Load another UFO (at this point they are ALL UFOs)--not yet

Applique 5 leaves---yes

I've been working on quilting this--

The "Pink Horror". Its not that bad--I'm not a pink person and I'm putting a flower motif on each block--its tedious but not hard. Its mostly made of Lover's Knotblocks I won in a block lotto a long time ago with a few others thrown in from my block stash. Henrietta set the blocks together about 5 years ago and I added a border when I pulled it out to quilt it. After all the quilting I did last weekend I decided to start a new project. There's a box of homespuns I'm trying to use up (remember the Double Slice quilt?). My friend Pam asked about a quilt-a-long and I thought it was a great idea!! We're using this pattern--

Its a free pattern from Andover Fabrics. It finishes 70x91.5"--I think that's a perfect size for a Quilt of Valor. I'm using a variety of COC. WOC, and tans for the neutral to set off my homespuns.

(PLEASE IGNORE THE BIG BLANK SPOT HERE--I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET RID OF IT)

Garden Gate Plaid Block

I have all 12 blocks done and next step is the sashing. The best part--I only have a few pieces of homespun left! While sitting in the recliner I work on my applique, the yoyos, and I've started binding one of the tops I quilted. We've laid in supplies for the cold spell that's coming--milk, coffee, TOILET PAPER. A big batch of soup has been made. Some homemade bread is planned. And sewing. Lots of sewing!! What do you have planned?

Aren't those colors just luscious?? It brings to mind blue water and lush trees. This is one of Henrietta's--its done and ready for binding. Check out everyone's Design Walls at Patchwork Times. Over the weekend was an impromptu quilting/sewing retreat with one of my on-line groups. Henrietta was kept busy sewing binding and searching for backings--3 tops were quilted and I have another one loaded and ready for inspiration. THAT might take a bit!! Weekly Goals--

One yo-yo block

quilt one top and make binding

Load another UFO (hey--at this point they are ALL UFOs)

Applique 5 leaves

Henrietta and I are heading out in the cold today--a bit of shopping, groceries etc. Its frigid cold but at least the wind has quit blowing. Have you stayed inside? Did you do any sewing? If you're where its warm and sunny--NO PICTURES OF YOUR TAN!!!

Do I count this as a UFO?? Of course--although its Henrietta's its been "resting" in my cupboard waiting to be quilted.

The red checkerboard--and its already off the long arm. Another top is loaded and ready for tomorrow. Wound the bobbins. Binding is made for the sailboat quilt, and I'll make some blue binding for the smaller blue quilt. I've joined with some of my fellow stashbusters in a quilting/sewing marathon this weekend.

A challenge was issued to work on one applique block a month. Do you recognize this?

Much more pastel/blended than what I usually make. The border will be the same mint green as the edge triangles. I love the pattern, but hated the method used to make it. I thought I would NEVER get all those rows sewn together!! Why is it I dislike this method--but love those silly yoyo's??? Check everyone's design wall at Patchwork Times!

Weekly Goals--

one yoyo block

load/quilt Sailboat quilt

one pillowcase

work on a UFO

That's enough for this week--I'm sure I won't get them all done--but plenty of choice in the list!

My project for Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year is---Cake Stand Blocks! I don't have a lot of pink in my stash--but found these bits so far. They finish at 8".

Not much left of these pinks--I threw the bits left over into my Double Wedding Ring basket. Its easy to make reverse color blocks as I go. Please check what everyone is making with their pinks at soscrappy!

Yes, I read my 2013 guidelines and cleared off the end of my cutting table. Lots of fabric folded and ready to go back in the storage cubes. Next I worked on a UFO---

Yes, the sailboats are all sewn together. I made the backing last night too. Maybe Henrietta will help me load this and it can be quickly quilted. Still working on yoyos, my goal is to complete one block a week. There are 18 done, I am halfway! My goal is to have it completely done by Fall. We'll see!A few pictures from the week---

Each one has a slightly different chicken on a different color plate. Ken gets blue, Henrietta's red, and mine is green! Its a small thing but makes our meal cheerful.

Next I'm going to work on Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks--January's color is "pink". What are you working on?? Have you thought about your resolutions? I need to print mine and hang them on the wall so I don't forget!

Work on ONE UFO per month and move it One more step towards completion. (add borders, set blocks into a top, etc)

Any piece of stash
less than 9" WOF goes into the scrap box to be recut into usable
units--noodles, 3.5" x 6.5" bricks, 5" charms.

Finish a UFO before starting a new project (this one is a bit iffy)

I plan to participate
in Design Wall Mondays, Stashbuster's UFO Challenge, Rainbow Scrap Challenge and other internet
fun. Even Stash reports! I may not post to each one every week--but I
enjoy them.

I plan to make quilts for donation and for family.

I will participate in internet fun.

I will remind myself its the PROCESS I love the most!

There, a plan for 2013! I NEED a plan.

Did you ring in the New Year? What--don't YELL?? You have a headache? Sending two aspirin to you ASAP. Today I plan to do some traditional Cajun cooking. Ken is a bit wary but I promise not to make it too spicy. Maybe a few Mimosa's with Henrietta....yeah--that's a good idea.